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Ray that's good you're having a good experience with the VA. I have a couple clients who use the VA, and they're not doing as well as you do. They have to travel over 100 miles to get to the doctor (nearest clinic that handles HIV is in Indy), and for one, the VA won't keep refilling his Plavix so he's on prescription assistance for that with Walgreen's.

That's great about only having to get labs every 4 months. I've been able to get my doctor to agree to every 6 months. Which I'm happy with; the less sticks, the better, right?

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

and for one, the VA won't keep refilling his Plavix so he's on prescription assistance for that with Walgreen's.

That's unfortunate ! I think this individual needs to sit down with his cardiologist, at the VA, get this discussed, and get to bottom of it, and find out precisely why the VA won't cover it,.. because I believe the VA carries Plavix. I wonder if there is a generic version. I just don't have that much knowledge on this drug, so it's hard for me to comment.

They just opened a VA clinic in town (South Bend) that covers like basic general medicine, and are supposed to build a VA hospital in town, in the next 6 years. I know when my clients go to either Indianapolis or Fort Wayne to see their other doctors (HIV, cardiologist etc.), they get mileage. That's nice.

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I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Received my lipid results today. Overall, it was not as bad as I was expecting, will see what the doctor says next week , when I see her. Total cholesterol went above 200, yet the HDL, LDL, Glucose and Triglycerides, were within range. Chloride was a little low. Some results were at the high end.

If I can just lower the triglycerides. I know the weight is the biggest issue for me, and I definitely need a better exercise routine. If I can just drop 10 - 15 pounds, I am sure I can get the numbers in check. Might even be able to drop the simvastatin. I am just so beat and tired after working all night, I have no time for it. Ed and I do our mile power walks though, so at least it's something !

So,.... yesterday ( Thursday morning) I went down to the VA, and had a full body check done by the dermatologist.

I had 3 areas frozen off, and had a small slice taken out of my nose to be biopsied.

She says it looks very much like Basal Cell. ( that didn't surprise me) It was very small, so I should get those results back in a week or two. Depending on results, She said an appointment may be made with the cosmetic surgeon. A routine follow up has been scheduled for 5/29/13.

On my follow up with my primary care doctor earlier in the week, she was pleased with the lipid panel, and not too concerned, about the total chol, being 206.

I had mentioned that the tinnitus seemed to be getting more noticeable, so an audiology exam, has been scheduled for 1/14/13 .

And,... the doctor was able to move the HIV labs back up to the clinic, instead of driving 23 miles south, to the main hospital. The VA often makes that mistake, and I have to follow through to make sure to get the labs moved. Those labs are scheduled for 12/24/12.

My primary care doctor says she needs to have the HIV doctor coordinate a little better, and have her labs, and the HIV labs drawn at the same time. So, we'll see how that goes in the future.

So other than a few appointments being scheduled, all is going pretty well.

So,.... yesterday ( Thursday morning) I went down to the VA, and had a full body check done by the dermatologist.

I had 3 areas frozen off, and had a small slice taken out of my nose to be biopsied.

She says it looks very much like Basal Cell. ( that didn't surprise me) It was very small, so I should get those results back in a week or two. Depending on results, She said an appointment may be made with the cosmetic surgeon. A routine follow up has been scheduled for 5/29/13.

UPDATE 12/5/12

I received a letter today from the VA, and as suspected, the spot on the left side of my nose was Basal Cell carcinoma.

So, an appointment has been made for Wednesday, January 9th,12 @ 11:00 AM . I just Got off the phone with the ARNP, that saw me on 11/29/12. She stated the cosmetic surgeon will take some more of my nose off, and it will require several sutures.

While I am there, I think I will ask for the excess skin on my eyelids to be removed, tummy tuck, breast reduction, and a Butt lift. I think I will also take off the 9th and 10th from work !

I have another dermatology appointment set for April 25th,14 I have another spot on my left forearm which seems to be aggressive and growing quickly. It's amazing how fast these things appear and how fast they grow.

I don't think they will be able to just freeze this one off, and it will probably have to be cut out.

I have some more fasting labs scheduled for Monday May 19th,14, and will be the lipids/metabolic panel, which are ordered by my primary doctor. So,.... we'll see how those results turn out. I've been taking my blood pressure at home, and BP is normal.

I am still on Viramune and Epzicom, along with the 40 mg dose of Simvastatin, the 25mg dose of Metoprolol Tartrate, and the split dose of Hydrochlorothiazide. << I split this in half to 12.5 mg and take daily.

Otherwise, nothing much else to report. I am feeling good, my energy levels seem OK, still sleeping 7-9 hours a night, weight is still not where I would like it to be. but i will continue to work on that. Appetite is good, got to lay off the sweets though!

I've found that since I have retired, I don't need that afternoon nap anymore. I get up around 7:00 am, and won't go to bed until 10:00pm or so.

Ed's doing great ! No more issues with his skin cancer. Still having some issues with his Hips and arthritis, but so far no medication is needed.